2 minute read
HEART OF TRADITION
Heart of Tradition Heart of Tradition
At the heart of tradition is the sharing of simple pleasures with the people you love. As the Christmas season rolls in, I can’t help but think of the traditions that have personalized this holiday for my family and me. Even with three sons now in their twenties, I still reminisce about the years when they were living at home and we engaged in our favorite activities each holiday season.
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Beginning with the tree, we’d make a day of it, trekking to a nearby Christmas tree farm to select the fullest tree worthy of displaying the family ornaments.
There was a day set aside to make Christmas cookies and an evening designated to drive around viewing beautiful homes illuminated with holiday splendor. On another evening, we schedule time to gather as a family and watch a DVD of A Christmas Story.
I got into the habit of making cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, a tradition my boys still enjoy if they sleep over on Christmas Eve.
One of our favorite activities, which has grown as familiar as gathering for Christmas dinner, is our tradition of taking a day during the season to go out to breakfast together and then spend time walking through the lobbies of downtown hotels to view the decorations. There are abundant opportunities to take a Christmas-themed family photo as we peruse the elaborate holiday displays and enormous Christmas trees.
As our family has grown to include significant others and grandchildren, we always anticipate sharing family customs with those who have entered our clan.
The children want to help guide Santa’s reindeer team to our house. They enjoy helping make reindeer dust, which is a mixture of oatmeal and glitter. Just sprinkle on the lawn Christmas Eve and it never fails! Then before we put the little ones to bed, they help lay out Santa’s cookies and milk. And we don’t forget to leave some fresh carrots for Rudolph and his reindeer buddies!
DO YOU HAVE A 1 Look for ways to FAVORITE CHRISTMAS begin new traditions TRADITION and learn to incorporate THAT YOU SHARE something that will draw
TOGETHER AS A in the new significant FAMILY? IT IS NEVER others and spouses. Every
TOO EARLY OR family tradition had a new TOO LATE TO START beginning.
ESTABLISHING NEW CUSTOMS. AS 2 Think of taking all the
YOUR CHILDREN gang out for breakfast OUTGROW CERTAIN instead of dinner. The cost CHILDHOOD of eating out during the TRADITIONS, LOOK breakfast/brunch hour can FOR IDEAS TO START be significantly cheaper. NEW ONES. Tack on a Christmasthemed activity.
3Engage in a Christmas scavenger hunt. Send family members out in small groups to take pictures of themselves with Christmasrelated objects. Then, have everyone return home to view the collection of photos together over hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.
4Visit a local craft/hobby store to make a special family ornament. During the Christmas season, craft stores offer such opportunities for free or minimal fees.
